System and method for tissue characterization using multislice magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

An MRI method includes: performing a first data acquisition block of a pulse sequence to acquire a first MR data from a plurality of slices of a subject during a period of fully recovered longitudinal magnetization within the plurality of slices disposed at different locations in the subject; performing a second data acquisition block of the pulse sequence including a magnetization preparation module followed by a recovery period and an imaging sequence executed during the recovery period, to acquire a second MR data from the plurality of slices during the recovery period; and generating a T1 map of the subject based on the first MR data and the second MR data, of the plurality of slices.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 991,033, filed May 9, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and, more particularly, to T1 tissue characterization using a multi-slice imaging.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]When a substance such as human tissue is subjected to a uniform magnetic field, i.e., a static magnetic field B0, the individual magnetic moments of the nuclear spins in the tissue attempt to align with the static magnetic field B0, but precess about it in random order at their characteristic Larmor frequency. A net magnetization moment Mz is generated in the direction of the static magnetic field B0, but the randomly oriented magnetic components in the perpendicular plane, i.e., transverse x-y plane, cancel one another. If,...

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Benefits of technology

[0018]In accordance with another aspect, there is provided an MRI system that includes a magnet system configured to generate a polarizing magnetic field about at least a portion of a subject arranged in the MRI apparatus and a plurality of gradient coils configured to establish at least one magnetic gradient field to the polarizing magnetic field. The MRI apparatus also includes an RF system configured to generate RF pulses and acquire medical imaging data from a subject arranged with in the MRI apparatus and a computer system configured to control operation of the magnet system, the plurality of gradient coils, and the RF system. The computer system is configured to control the plurality of gradient coils and RF system to perform a first acquisition block of a

Problems solved by technology

However, to overcome the problem of time-consuming long rest periods between the inversion pulses, MOLLI samples the longitudinal magnetization recovery curve multiple times after a single magnetization preparation pulse, which hinders the accuracy.

Thus, MOLLI suffers from inaccurate T1 estimates due to the heart rate, sensitivity to T2 times, and magnetization transfer dependencies.

However, these sequences still suffer from inaccurate

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